C-Section & Breast Feeding... Milk Coming In

So after two c-sections I've had two different experiences... first one I was induced then emergency c-section and my milk really didn't come in, second I went into labour before my c-section naturally and my milk seemed to come in fine...

I'm worry that this time it may not come in and I'm soooo nervous about mastitis (got it three times in the first three weeks before I gave up the first time as my milk just wouldn't increase (with the help of medication)

What can I do to prepare this time? Did your milk take longer to come in after a c-section?

Any tips / hints...

Only had one, but nope, the c/s didn't effect my milk at all... Came in the night of Day 2 post op, and with a vengence.

As for mastitis... Lots of warm showers, let the water run down the breast and gently massage out ANY lumps you feel.
Do it while feeding too. Heat before feeding, cold after feeding. Use warm washers, etc.
I never got mastitis, don't know why I never did, but I was onto EVERY lump straight away and showered twice a day massaging both breasts just in case there were any I couldn't feel.

Good luck! Hope it all goes smoothly for you x

ETA: I did labour for over 30 hours (first contraction to c.s) before having an emergency c/s

My experience was after 17 hrs of labour I had a c/section, my milk didn't come in until day 5. I didn't have a clue what I was doing but I would feed him for an hour and then for my own sanity wouldn't put him back on for another hour. The first day he was born (he was born at night so the next morning) he slept alot and went without a feed for 6 or 8 hrs... I thought you should leave a sleeping baby to sleep so didn't know that I should have woken him earlier to feed. I don't know if this caused my milk to take longer to come in or not.
I was lucky that the hospital didn't 'interfere' too much as I wasn't pressured to put him onto a bottle but I didn't get a lot of help working out attachment and feeding correctly so I was really lucky that it worked out as well as it has. We have just weaned at 33 mnths old so I believe it can be done.
As for mastitis, again I was lucky and didn't get it. I would suggest and ABA membership because they are a great resource for help and information.
Goodluck this time

With DD mine didn't come in until day 5 and I was home by then, being my first it was pretty awful and we had to top her up until it did come in. With DS I was determined not to wait til day 5, so we expressed in hospital. I fed him 2-3 hourly (no longer than 3 hourly) around the clock and we expressed in between as well, about an hour after a feed every second feed during the day and 3 hourly at night. It was bl@@dy hard work and I remember sitting up in bed and the nurses coming in and hand expressing 1mL of colostrum while I half slept sitting up but it was worth it because my milk came in around the morning of day 3 which was ace and DS never had to have any formula at all.

You might be lucky but all I can advise is feed as much you can to stimulate your supply and and make sure once it comes in that bub is draining both breasts. I never had mastitis but did get blocked ducts a few times and hot showers and massage helped. Good luck with it all xox

I had 30hrs of labour and then a c/s and it didn't effect my milk coming in at all. Came in day 2 or 3 I think and I had lots of colostrum before that too. I remember the m/w's were surprised it was so much after a c/s. All I did was just feed DD every time she looked at me, lol. Couldn't get up off the bed or do anything else so I just kept feeding her.

With DS I had planned caesar at 34+4 so didn't have a labour at all. My milk came in on day 3 and boy did my milk come in, it was everywhere. DS was in SCN so I had only been able to offer him the breast 2-3 times max during those first 3 days. Good luck, hope everything works out beautifully for you.

If he had been rooming in with me then I would have offered him the breast more often. I agree with other comments saying more times on breast to stimulate the better.

Very similar to PPs, offer as much as you can.

My experience was long labour - no milk until day 6, no labour - milk on day 2.
The first time round I had no idea what I should have been doing and conflicting advice from each different M/W, so with DS I just did my own thang. With DD I also had multiple bouts of mastitis early. Your boobs don't know the time or how long it has been since a feed they only know when they are full.
Educate yourself as much as possible. Totally agree with Limeslice about being pre-emptive with any lumps. Feed as often as you can until the milk settles.

unplanned CS, loads of milk on day 4 or 5. laboured for 11 hours before cs.

mum keeps telling me that with every baby, your bb's behave differently. good luck! Xx

With DD it was 17.5hrs of labour before a ECS and my milk came in on day 5, and breastfeeding just really didnt take off even after 6 weeks of expressing and trying to feed, no formula is just wasnt to be.

DS on the other hand was a 62hr labour which also ended in a ECS milk came in on day 2-3 from memory and hes nearlly 1 and still going strong with the breastfeeding.

One thing i think really helped was during the day feeding every 3 hrs at a bare minimum more if they want it and just going with the flow over night.

Thanks ladies... keep the good advice and tips coming...

I agree with the BBs behaving differently with each pregnancy... this is the first time that they've grown and while looking :blush: I have managed to extract a tiny bit of fluid....

Never with the other two was there a difference, before and after birth. Sadly I only got to feed my second son for two and a half weeks as I ended up back in hospital and on strong medication that killed my milk and I don't think he would have been any good for him anyway...

Fingers crossed for a longer breast feeding experience this time!!!

A c/s can make things harder but as you know it is still possible to bf after one most of the time. Lots of skin to skin contact and offering the breast frequently are the best ways to bring that milk in. The ABA have a booklet about bfing after a c-section which you might find helpful.

I had a semi elective c-section, DD was given to me for a feed around half an hour after delivery in recovery. My milk came in on day 3. No problems at all!! xxxx